© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. The Complete Spa Book for Massage Therapists THALASSOTHERAPY: THEORY LESSON L-7.0

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. SPA THOUGHT “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.” Isak Dinesen

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. THALASSOTHERAPY :the therapeutic use of sea water or sea products to enhance beauty and well-being

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. ROOT OF THE WORD from the Greek “thalassa” (sea) + “therapeia”

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. THALASSOTHERAPY & MASSAGE THERAPISTS Spa therapists administer: –seawater baths –seaweed body wraps –other applications Need to know how treatments work –in order to explain effects to clients –to explain how massage & thalassotherapy work together

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. ORIGINS & DEVELOPMENT OF THALASSOTHERAPY Oceans > 70% of the Earth’s surface Seawater has similarities to the watery content of our own bodies Water in human blood plasma is chemically similar to seawater Life on Earth originated in the oceans

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. RENÉ QUINTON French biologist In 1904, published: Seawater: Organic Medium, a classic in thalassotherapy Using seawater, achieved dramatic results –almost completely transfused dogs with diluted seawater; they thrived

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. RENÉ QUINTON’S “LAW OF MARINE CONSTANCY” “Animal life, having originally appeared in cellular form in the seas, tends to maintain, for its best cellular functioning throughout zoological species, its fundamental cells in a marine environment similar to its origin.”

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. RICHARD RUSSELL English physician, published A Dissertation Concerning the Use of Sea Water in the Diseases of the Glands in 1750 Instituted a “water cure” –drinking small amounts of sea water –bathing in the ocean –established sea therapy center in Brighton –helped start tradition of English seaside holiday

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. MODERN DEVELOPMENTS IN THALASSOTHERAPY 1899: Dr. Louis Bagot founds first thalassotherapy center in Roscoff, France 1964: Louison Bobet, French cyclist, opens modern thalassotherapy center Thalasso centers now dot the globe –France has dozens of centers –U.S. has a couple, most notably Gurney’s Inn

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. TRUE THALASSOTHERAPY FACILITY REQUIREMENTS Seawater warmed to approximately 98 ° F Pure water pumped directly from the sea Must be located on or very near shore Must be supervised by a physician Use seawater & sea products exclusively

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. ALGAE Seaweeds are a type of multicellular algae Several types (phyla) of algae used in spas –red –green –blue-green (now classified as cyanobacteria) –brown Provide 70% to 80% of the world’s oxygen Source of nutrition & crucial elements

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. ALGAE SIZE AND LOCATION From microscopic to colossal in size Limited depth range (from surface to 879 feet) 1,000s of types; ≈ 12 used in spas From coast of France, Brittany/Normandy Not typically applied fresh, but processed Nutrient material separated & micronized Powder reconstituted, blended w/ oils, etc.

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. ANCIENT ALGAE – CYANOBACTERIA Formerly called blue-green algae Really more like bacteria than plants Used in spa treatments The oldest known fossil on Earth 3.5 billion years old This ancient life form is applied to the skin and absorbed through the pores.

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. PHOTOSYNTHESIS Sunlight chemically transformed into energy Algae, plants, & bacteria can photosynthesize Chlorophyll – green pigment used by most plants to absorb energy from the sun Algae use a wide variety of pigments Almost all organisms depend on photosynthesis

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. THE CARBON CYCLE the endless cycle of plants and algae converting carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis, only to have this oxygen inhaled by animals, who then exhale carbon dioxide yet again

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. EFFECTS & BENEFITS OF THALASSOTHERAPY Most important benefit = remineralization Soil & environment depleted of minerals Need to supplement with sea minerals Seawater/algae have high mineral density Seawater contains 3.5% salt Balances & replenishes electrolytes

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. MINERALS Help support normal metabolism W/out minerals, no vitamin absorption, no muscle movement, & no nerve impulses Major minerals –body needs more than 100 mg per day Trace minerals –body needs less than 100 mg per day

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Phytoplankton – plant part of plankton Zooplankton – animal part of plankton –loaded w/ nutrients & energy –antibacterial, & anti-viral substances Polysaccharides – moisturize Phytohormones – nourish & moisturize Plus proteins, amino acids, & vitamins THERAPEUTIC COMPONENTS IN SEAWATER

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Stress Depression Obesity Cellulite Rheumatism Peripheral circulatory problems Recovery from surgery or illness CONDITIONS TREATED BY THALASSOTHERAPY

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. THALASSOTHERAPY CONTRAINDICATIONS Claustrophobia Sensitivities to essential oils & additives “Iodine allergy” not a contraindication

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. SEAWEED APPLICATIONS Performed most by massage therapists: –body wraps –baths –cellulite services

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. SEAWEED APPLICATIONS Sea salt scrub a type of thalassotherapy Drinking seawater has therapeutic benefits Seaweed used in weight-loss programs –fucoxanthin – pigment found in brown algae

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. When life evolved, seawater salt % lower 0.9% then vs. 3.5% salinity level today Over time, seas became saltier –fresh water washed salts in soils & rocks to sea –water evaporated, leaving salts behind Our bodies still have original lower salt level SALT CONTENT OF THE SEA VS. HUMAN BODIES

© Copyright 2010 Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. SUMMARY You now know: –roots of thalassotherapy –how therapists apply thalassotherapy in spas –properties of algae & seawater –effects and benefits of thalassotherapy –contraindications of thalassotherapy –seaweed applications